You’ve heard it time and time again. “No.” “We already use a similar product.” “Sorry, we’re not interested.” “Now is not a good time.” The bottom line is, rejection is painful no matter how long you’ve been in sales. It doesn’t matter how delicately (or indelicately) they put it, a no always means no. Or does it?

More impatient, more demanding, and more informed.

Sound familiar?

With attributes like that, it can seem impossible to please today’s consumers let alone increase your sales.

Everyone strives to be productive on a daily basis, at least to some degree, yet very few are actually doing it to their own satisfaction (or the satisfaction of others, such as their supervisors or spouse).

It may be a bit of a mind bender, but consider this:

Business-to-business companies are always on the lookout for potential clients who can really benefit from what they have to offer. As a result, lead generation has proven to be one of the most difficult yet crucial pursuits of a B2B. A lead generation study discovered that “Generating high quality leads is still the top issue for 59 percent of marketers.” The fact is, targeting the ideal person or company is more important to a B2B than getting a wildly high volume of ineffective prospects. Quality over quantity.

The most pivotal analogy I’ve come across about lead response compares a lead to a freshly captured fish and here is why it pays to be as quick with your catch as it does to be quick with leads. 

Now, stay with me here.

Negotiation is a part of life. This method of discussion can help accomplish personal and professional goals set for yourself. You can negotiate a job offer to achieve a higher salary, a promotion for advancement within your organization, or a better vehicle price at the dealership.

While the Merriam-Webster Dictionary indicates the definition of success to be “the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame”, I believe the true definition of success is in the eye of the beholder.

Priorities, beliefs, values, and our own varied histories all color the unique meaning we associate with such a word. Consider the following:

We all have them. Those tendencies that once started out small and innocent but have now slowly crept into our everyday routine creating, you guessed it, A BAD HABIT.

What happens when these poor practices are happening in a professional setting and not just in your personal practices at home? They pull you away from obtaining the success you are capable of and leave little room for your good habits to surface and shine.

Sure, online reviews are a nice way to sway consumers toward your product or business, but do you really know the power they carry for your company?